Central and local government

Everyone is exposed to the workings of central and local government, though we may not always recognize it. Increasingly, non-elected bodies, trusts, quangos and so on are responsible for running what we consider to be public services, such as those associated with education, health and water.

It is this growing middle ground, especially between a directly accountable public sector and the newly privatized sector, which is causing public concern. Inevitably a spotlight has been cast on the way in which public money is spent and the way in which decisions are made. Such new bodies are in fact obliged to report to the center in one way or another, but the transparency of their operations has been clouded.

That said, the UK system of government, though sometimes complex, still remains the envy of many countries. As consumers, we may not think it perfect. As practitioners, however, we should know its functions and means of access.